Headlamp mounting



. HERMAN SCHWARZE,

I inheadlamp assemblies,

Patented June 3, 1930 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OF BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HEADLAMZP MOUNTING Application filed February 8, 1929. Serial No. 338,410.

This invention relates to an improvement and is particularly intended for use on motor vehicles wherein the headlamps are supported on a fender brace or tiejrod extending between the two fenders at the frontof the 'vehicle.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improvedconnection for mounting the headlamps on the supporting fender brace, or other similar bracket, and to provide a conduit, preferably in the form of a vertical cable or post, forconcealing the current conducting wires leading to the lamp filaments, which conduit serves the purpose of hiding unsightly wires and lends a certain ornamental'eifect to ther front of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a construction which will permitieasy and quick initial assembly, as well as the subsequent disassembly and reassembly for the purpose of in spection, adjustment or repair.

Other objects and advantages-will become apparent :during the: course of the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein Fig. v1 isa vfrontelevationof the headlamp assembly.

Fig. 2 is'a'transverse sectional view of the headlamp mounting and'upper end of the ca ble, and a Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the fastening means for the lower end of the conduit. v

Referring to the drawing, the reference character liindicates a pair of longitudinally extending, channel-shaped chassis frame members to each of which is secured an upwardly. and outwardly extending bracket 2 for the usualfenders or mud guards 3. EX- tending transverselyof'the' vehicle and forward of the radiator 4:, is a tiebar or brace rod 5 having at each end a bracketfi secured as by meansof bolts 7 to the fenderv bracket 2. The innerend of eachbracket 6is split and formed with a circular opening into whichextends the end ofythe'tie rod 5, the rod being held in place-by means of a tapered pinor key 8. On the ;upper face of the knowntype. bayonet slot or;other similar quickly detachbracket 6 is formed a concave seat or socket into which is fitted a hollow semi-spherical member 9 having an out-turned flange 10 at its upper end which is preferably riveted, orotherwise secured on the inside ofthe lamp housing 11. Within the hollow member 9 is an outwardly flared or flanged portion 12 of a dependent sleeve or tube 13 projecting through an opening in the bracket '6, and secured in place by nut 14, screw-threaded on its'lowerend. The outwardly flared portion 12, and the socket or concave depression in the upper face of the bracket 6 form a .uni-

versal mounting for the member ,9 clamped,

provided with abase 19'that is secured ,as by screws or bolts .20 passing through the hood ledge or flange 21 of the fender.3, and having threaded engagement with a reinforcing or stiiiening plate 22 on the under side ,of Ashe hood ledge 21. A sheet metal cylinder 23 on the lower-end of thecable 17 has an -an nular depression in which is seated .a ring 24 to hold in place a washer25 forming a seat for a tensionedcoil spring 26that-ibears at its opposite end against an-inturned annular flange 27 at the top of ,the tubular element 18. The tension of thecoil spring 26 afiords a yielding connection whichprevents rattle and also exerts a downward pull on the cable to maintain it in a vertical line.

Extending upwardly through the cable 17 is a conduit 28, enclosing one or more electric current-conducting suitable control switch nection with aconnector plug 29 ofa well The plug 29 preferably has a wires leading froma l conveniently :located ad acent the drlvers seat and having con In assembling the lamp on the m'ounting the dependent tube 13 is inserted in the openentirely concealed from view.

- tapered p1n ports the lamps,

ing of the bracket 6, and the plug '29 is connected with the sleeve in order toestablish electrical communication from the.- control switch to the lighting filaments. The nut 14,

and with it the conduit 17, isthen lifted and threaded onto the end or the tube 13 and 'drawn tight with the lamp adjusted to the. proper angle. The unsightlywires are thus In the event itlater becomes necessary to readjust the lamp or to get access to the current-conducting wires for any reason, the

assembly procedure is reversed, as willbe ob vious. When the nut 14 is removed from the tube 13, the conduit is allowed to drop until its lower end rests upon the hood ledge 21, which,together with the flexibility of the conduit, afiords ample room for the manipulation of the connector plug29 It is to be noted that the removal of either headlamp or the loosening of the adjusting nuts 14 to efiect headlamp adjustment does not afiect the connection between the lamp brackets and tie rod nor allowthe fenders to sag or spread apart, since at such times the Thus the length of the assembly and the re lation'of the fenders is maintained, which materially simplifies the adjustment operation as no attention need be given to the proper spacing and bracing of the tenders.

Inorder to eliect a pleasing contrast, the fender brace maybe painted black or given a dull finish, and the conduit or post 17 given a bright finish or high polish. This arrangement' materially enhances the decorative ef- {cot and affords an appearance of exceptional V sturdiness to the front of the vehicle. To the casual observer viewing the ,car at a distance the impression is had of two lamps supported wholly upon vertical posts; 7

Although the construction has been described more or less specifically, it will be understood that the invention isnotvlimited to the exact details mentioned, but thatvarious modifications, such as come within the scope of the appended claims, may be readily made. I claim: p 1. In a headlamp mounting for vehicles, wherein a tie bar a dependent tube-on a lamp extending through a portion of the tie bar, a quick detachable coupling for the conductors of energy to the light element, carried by said dependent tube, the conductors, having means for 1 attachterminals 8 holds the tie rod in the brackets.

connecting the fenders sup- 7 a protective casing for.

ment withthe tube to hold the lamp in place and prevent access to the coupling.

2. In a vehicle headlamp mounting, a sup- 1 port, a dependent hollow element on the lamp extending through the support, a substantially vertical conduit having itsupper end detachablyconnected with said hollow element, current-conducting wires concealed detachable coupling between the wires adj acent the detachable connection of the conduit and element, whereby access may be had to the coupling when said connection is broken.

within the conduit and hollow element,and a v V 3. Ina vehicleheadlamp mounting, a support, a dependent hollow tube on the lamp extendingthrou'gh the support, a "conduit,

means engageable with the tube to hold the v lamp in adjusted position and connect the and cur-. I v

conduit'in alignment with the tube, rent-conducting wires concealed within the conduit and tube and leading to the lighting element of'the lamp. 1 r v V 4. In a vehicle headlamp mounting, a support, a lamp havlng a dependent tubular element extendlng through an opening in the support, a conduit, means engageable with the tubular element to hold the-lamp inadjusted positionand connect the conduit in alignment wi conducting wires concealed within-and lead-r; ing' through to the lamp, and amember havingan opening into which the end of the conduit telescopi cally projects.

5. The structure of claim 5 and an elastic th the tubularelement, current- 7, j the conduit and tubular element element exerting its tension against the end of the conduit,

6. The structure of claim-ewherein the conduit consists of spring carried by conduit telescopes bears onthe cable to retain it in themember and resist fie'xing thereof. 3

7 In a vehicle headlamp mounting, a supa flexible cable and a V l the member with which the port, a lamp supported thereby, a conduit leading toth-e'lamp and concealing therein;

the current conductors, a sleeve telescopically v surrounding the lower end of the conduit, and a -spring located within the sleeve" and exerting its tension on the lower'endof the conduit. I I V 8. In a headlamp mounting for vehicles, a

support for the lamp, a dependent tube on the lamp projecting through the support,aflexible cable havi'ng at its upper end a connector for attachment with the tube, and forming,

with the tube a hollow conduit for concealing the current-conducting wire leading tothe light element of the lamp, and means to hold the lower end of the cable in place including a tubular element intowhich the lower end of the cable projects, and an elastic element interposed" under 1 tension between seats formed on the tubeand cable respectively.

9.1a a headlamp mounting, 'a' tender brackethaving a hollow-split end,=atie bar projecting into the hollow end of the bracket, a pin extending through aligned apertures in the bracket and tie bar, a headlamp having a dependent hollow portion projecting through the split end of the bracket, current conducting wires leading through said hollow portion to the interior of the lamp, a conduit for concealing said Wires having an adjustable I attachment element for engagement with said hollow portion and adapted by its adjustment to secure the lamp on the bracket and contract said split end about the tie bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERMAN SCHWARZE. 

